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My IC Story
4
Tahsin Jarrah ‘69:
“A story that happened to me at IC”
If I recall correctly, it was the year 1966, and at that time I
was attending the 4th secondary (as they used to call it
then) at I.C. It was during English class that an event hap-
pened that has reflected positively on me ever since. I
remember the scene as if it were yesterday …. I recall my
colleagues, who I am sure also recall that moment. Many of
them now have very successful careers. I still meet with
them during my travels. Today, they are journalists, bankers,
engineers, medical doctors… If it happens that they read
this short story, I give them my best regards.
It was Mr. Addington, the reputable English teacher, who
was conducting the English session in question. This was in
Rockefeller Hall, on the second floor. The students of the
class were discussing a novel (I do not recall which) and
that day the chapter being discussed was about a thief in
India who enters a room in a museum to steal a famous
jewel. Of course, the famous Mr. Addington was aiming at
the theme of the novel and its importance as English litera-
ture… I was really enjoying the novel, and listened to him
as he stated its events... He read “the thief entered the room
and closed all windows and doors and it was complete
darkness… and there was the jewel, glittering like a star…”
I raised my hand and he stopped. I said, “Sir, this jewel is
not the authentic jewel the writer is talking about, or else
the writer does not know what he is talking about”. Mr.
Addington looked at me and said “I have been teaching this
novel for over ten years now and no student has made your
remark. Sit down my friend.” I said “No Sir, an authentic
jewel will not glitter unless there is light in the room!!! And
the writer said all windows and doors were tightly closed.”
The class looked at me, waiting for me to defend my point
of view, as I was the class science advisor from time to
time!!! Mr. Addington did not give me any attention and
carried on.
During the recess, I did not give up, but went to the library
and looked up light reflection and prisms in the
Encyclopaedia Britannica. I paid for that photo copy (it was
really something then), came back to Mr. Addington, and
proved my case … He was hesitant to accept (he did not
give me credit but I felt he was impressed)… This event had
a big influence on me in my management career. I knew
then that I would have to distinguish myself and sometimes
think differently from the group. It was then that I discov-
ered the meaning of self-assurance as well as how to be an
entrepreneur…
I was born in Beirut, Lebanon, on
07/07/1938. I attended IC,
including the elementary school,
from 1944 to 1956. I secured the Baccalaureate 1 in 1955
and the Baccalaureate 2 in 1956. I was one of the few stu-
dents that passed the governmental Baccalaureate 2 for the
first time in English. My class was the first to undertake mili-
tary training in Lebanon. I went on to graduate in 1960
from AUB with a BE (with distinction) in civil engineering
and from the University of Wisconsin with an MS in civil
engineering. I worked throughout my professional life at The
Associated Consulting engineers- ACE as an engineer, share-
holder, and director. I retired in February 2004. I am mar-
ried to Mary Ann Eastwood (40 years) and we are the proud
parents of Farid, Nadia, and Ramsey. The following are two
of my IC stories.
1-My father, Farid A Fuleihan (Registrar of AUB at the time)
noticed in 1953 that I was in the habit of leaving my home
for IC after the commencement of the first class. He also
noted that my reports failed to mention that I was always
late. He queried me on this and I confirmed to him that
everything was OK. Our young English teacher was very tol-
erant. Finally my father communicated his worries to Mr.
Leslie Leavitt, Principal of IC. One morning I arrived at
school, late as usual, said good morning and rushed to sit in
my front row seat, only to discover Mr. Leavitt sitting in my
seat. He gently grabbed my ear and led me to his office and
after a brief lecture handed me a sealed envelope contain-
ing my suspension from IC. A week later, I was allowed to
recommence my studies. Four years later, Mr. Leslie Leavitt
sent to my AUB mailbox a cartoon clip showing a guy
sleeping with 15 alarm clocks ringing and a caption stating
“By the time he puts them all off he is wide awake.” This
incident was very instrumental in making me the prompt –
on time – person that I am today.
2- In 1954, IC director Mr. Fayez Assad (who doubled as
physics professor) was teaching us a physics course on light
reflection and refraction. During one of the review sessions,
Mr. Assad asked me to explain what I would see were I to
look from above the water at a mirror placed on the floor of
the AUB swimming pool. I promptly stated that, because of
light refraction, I would see my face distorted. “WRONG!”
he screamed with a smile, “you would see your distorted
face distorted more and more.”
Tahsin Jarrah ’69 (far
right) in 4th secondary,
with two of his class-
mates back in 1966.
Fuad Farid Fuleihan ’56:
“The following are two of my IC
stories.”